Tuesday, 5 September 2017

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday granted the request seeking
to serve court processes on Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People Of
Biafra, IPOB, through substituted service.

The court, however, ordered that other respondents in the matter,
namely: the Inspector-General of Police, the Commandant General, Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Attorney-General of the
Federation be served personally.

Justice B.O. Quadri gave the order following an ex-parte application
by Richard Ndubuaku for an order of court for substituted service of all
the processes of the court on the defendants by publishing them in two
national newspapers.

Mr. Ndubuaku, who made the application through his counsel, Smart
Iheazor, also asked the court to make an order restraining the
respondents, whether by themselves, members or agents from disrupting
the forthcoming Anambra election.

He also asked the court to make an order restraining Mr. Kanu and all
members of IPOB from interfering, intimidating and harassing all
registered and eligible voters in the November 18 Anambra election.

He further asked the court to prevent Mr, Kanu and IPOB from
mobilising its members either by threat or undue influence to scuttle
the election, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Mr. Iheazor told the court that his client premised his application
on the grounds that Mr. Kanu and IPOB had severally made utterances and
threats which were published in newspapers which they had not denied or
retracted.

“From the antecedents of Kanu and the activities of IPOB, they are capable of carrying out their threat.

“Serving the processes of this suit on the them by publishing in two
national newspapers will bring same to their knowledge as it will be
dangerous and difficult to effect personal service on them.

“The applicant has several businesses and business interests and
houses in Onitsha and Awka with over 100 staff that will be affected if
the threats of Kanu and IPOB are carried out.”

Mr. Iheazor further explained that the applicant was almost 70 years
old and may lose all his life investments in Awka and Onitsha and may
not withstand the destruction of his life long struggle.

The judge, however, only granted the order of substituted service on
Mr. Kanu and IPOB, and refused all the other reliefs sought by the
applicant and asked that all parties in the suit be put on notice.

In refusing to grant the other reliefs sought by Ndubuaku the judge
said that the federal government had the capacity to ensure that
elections held in Anambra.